Faceted container

ABSTRACT

A container having a faceted region, the peripheral wall of which above the waist is substantially free from facets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Container for a product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blow molded containers are commonly used for packaging consumer goodssuch as liquid fabric softeners, liquid detergent, powdered detergent,water, soda, beer, wine, tea, fruit juice, surface cleaningcompositions, milk, particulate laundry scent additives, and the like.Marketers of such products must compete with others participants in themarket to attract consumers to their brands. One way by which marketersattempt to differentiate their product from the products of others is touse a container shape that is proprietary or unique to their brand.

Blow molding can be used produce containers having a variety of shapes.One constraint on the shape of the container adopted by a marketer isthat the container must have sufficient structural stability to endurethe stresses applied to the container during the life-cycle of thecontainer. The life-cycle of a container can include steps ofproduction, filling, packing, transfer, storage as inventory, shipping,display, storage in-home, and use in-home.

One of the most stressful conditions imposed on a container during thelife-cycle of the container is during storage. In a typical situation, acardboard carton or tray and cap package is used to store a plurality ofcontainers. For example, ten or more containers of fabric softener orwater may be packed together. The cardboard cartons or tray and cappackages may be placed on a palate and multiple cartons or tray and cappackages may be stacked one on top of another. To provide for economy ofhandling the containers, marketers desire to stack cartons or tray andcap packages as high as possible so that a single palate carries as manycontainers as practical.

One limitation to how high cartons or tray and cap packages can bestacked is the top-load buckling strength of the containers since thecontainers on the bottom of the stack may carry some or all of theweight of the containers above. If the containers do not have sufficienttop-load buckling strength, the containers may axially buckle. Marketerscan improve the buckling strength of containers by using thicker walledcontainers or using container shapes that tend to having high top-loadbuckling strength. Containers having thick walls are more expensive thancontainers having thin walls. The shapes for containers that tend tohave relatively high top-load buckling strength also may not generatethe desired visual interest of a consumer when presented on the shelf ofa retailer.

A container that is buckled may leak, may cause the overlying stack ofcartons or tray and cap packages to become unstable, and may beunattractive to the consumer considering purchasing the container andcontents thereof. A buckled container may be perceived by the consumeras being indicative of inferior goods, especially as compared to anothercompeting brand displaying unmarred containers.

In view of the above, marketers face trade-offs between efficiency ofhandling of the containers, desired shape, and cost of the containerswhen choosing a particular container to carry their product. With theselimitations in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need forcontainers having sufficient top-load bucking strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A container comprising: a closed end having a closed end periphery; anda peripheral wall extending from the closed end periphery about alongitudinal axis of the container to an open end, the closed end andthe peripheral wall comprising a thermoplastic substrate; wherein theperipheral wall defines a variable open cross-section of the containerin a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis as a function of distancefrom the closed end; wherein the container has a waist having a waistopen cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal axis that is less thanthe open cross-sectional area orthogonal to the longitudinal axis aboveand below the waist; wherein the peripheral wall comprises a facetedregion comprising a plurality of facets arranged edge to edge with oneor more adjacent facets, at least a portion of the faceted region beinglocated nearer to the closed end than to the open end; wherein theperipheral wall has a peripheral wall exterior surface oriented awayfrom the longitudinal axis, the peripheral wall exterior surface havinga peripheral wall exterior surface area; wherein each of the pluralityof facets has a facet exterior surface area oriented away from thelongitudinal axis and each of the facets has an exterior surface areathat is between about 0.0001% and about 4% of the peripheral wallexterior surface area; wherein the peripheral wall above the waist isfree from or substantially free from facets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a container.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1 asmarked in FIG. 1, the view being taken towards the closed end.

FIG. 3 is cut-out view of a portion of the peripheral wall shown in FIG.2 as marked in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is profile view of a container.

FIG. 5 is a plurality of facets.

FIG. 6 is a plurality of facets.

FIG. 7 is a plurality of facets.

FIG. 8 is a plurality of facets.

FIG. 9 is a plurality of facets.

FIG. 10 is a profile view of a container having a sleeve label.

FIG. 11 is a profile view of a container having a bounded label.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section of a container 10 taken orthogonal to thelongitudinal axis L, the closed end of the container being visible.

FIG. 13 is container having a plug-seal closure.

FIG. 14 is a carton containing a plurality of containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A container 10 having a waist 20 is shown in FIG. 1. The container 10can be formed by injection stretch blow molding. The container 10 can beformed by injection molding, injection stretch blow molding, extrusionblow molding, or similar process. The container 10 can be a thermoformedcontainer 10.

The container 10 can have a closed end 30. The closed end 30 can have aclosed end periphery 40. The closed end periphery 40 can define theextent of the closed end away from the longitudinal axis L. The closedend 30 can be shaped to have a structure that can be stably rested on aflat surface such as a table. The closed end 30 can be shaped as shownin FIG. 1. The closed end 30 can be provided with a plurality of feetupon which the closed end 30 can rest on a flat surface such as a table.

A peripheral wall 50 can extend from the closed end periphery 40 about alongitudinal axis L of the container 10 to the open end 60. Thelongitudinal axis L is an axis of the container 10 that passes throughthe open end 60 and the closed end 30 about which the peripheral wall 50extends. The peripheral wall 50 can extend from the open end 60 to theclosed end 30. The peripheral wall 50 can be symmetric or asymmetricabout the longitudinal axis L. The open end 60 can be about thelongitudinal axis L. If the open end is generally circularly shaped, theopen end 60 can circumscribe the longitudinal axis L.

The peripheral wall 50 and closed end 30 can have a peripheral wallexterior surface 170 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L and anopposing interior surface 180. The interior surface 180 of theperipheral wall 50 is oriented towards the longitudinal axis L. Theinterior surface 180 of the closed end 30 is oriented towards the openend 60. The peripheral wall exterior surface 170 can have a peripheralwall exterior surface area 172, which is the total area of theperipheral wall exterior surface's 170 faces and curved surfaces aboveand below the waist.

The closed end 30 and peripheral wall 50 can comprise a thermoplasticmaterial. The thermoplastic material can be a petroleum basedthermoplastic material or a plant based thermoplastic material. Theclosed end 30 and peripheral wall 50 can be any polymeric material thatcan be blow molded. The container 10 can comprise a material selectedfrom the group consisting of high density polyethylene, low densitypolyethylene, polypropylene, biaxially oriented polypropylenepolyethylene, polyethylene terphthalate, polyethylene terephthalateglycol, processable polylactic acid, polyvinyl chloride, thermoplasticstartch, cellulose bioplastic, aliphatic polyesters, and polylacticacid.

The peripheral wall 50 can define a variable open cross-section 70 ofthe container 10 in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L asfunction of distance from the closed end 30. A variable cross-section 70of the container 10 at a particular height or location along thelongitudinal axis L is stippled and labeled as 70 in FIG. 1. At variouslocations along the longitudinal axis L, the cross-section orthogonal tothe longitudinal axis L can have different shapes and or sizes.

The variable open cross-section 70 defines an area within the container10 within which the contents of the container 10 are held. The container10 can be a bulbous shaped container 10 having a relatively narrowclosed end 30 and a peripheral wall 50 that broadens in relationship tothe height of the container 10, the height being taken along thelongitudinal axis L moving away from the closed end 30.

Starting from the closed end 30 and moving along the longitudinal axisL, the area of the open cross-section 70 can have an initial value thatgradually increases with height as measured from the closed end 30 alongthe longitudinal axis L. The area of the open cross-section 70 can havea maximum at a particular height, above which the area of the opencross-section 70 decreases with increasing height as measured from theclosed end 30 along the longitudinal axis L. The maximum can be a globalmaximum or local maximum.

The container 10 can have a waist 20 having a waist open cross-section80 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L that is less than the area ofthe open cross-section 70 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L aboveand below the waist 20. The waist 20 can be a narrowed region of thecontainer 10 that can be generally located proximal the open end 60 ofthe container 10. The waist open cross-section 80 is marked in FIG. 1and stippled. The waist 20 can be sized and dimensioned to be able to begripped by an adult female hand.

The peripheral wall 50 can comprise a faceted region 90. The facetedregion 90 can comprise plurality of facets 100. The facets 100 formingthe faceted region 90 can be arranged edge to edge with one or moreadjacent facets 100. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about5 facets 100. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 10facets 100. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 20 facets100. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 40 facets 100.The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 80 facets 100. Thefaceted region 90 can comprise more than about 150 facets 100. Thefaceted region 90 can comprise more than about 300 facets 100. Withoutbeing bound by theory, it is thought that the greater the number offacets 100 in the faceted region 90, the more flashes of reflectancethat can be generated as the relative position of the container 10changes with respect to the consumer, e.g. by movement of the container10 in the consumer's hands or movement of the consumer as she moves inproximity to the container 10. The faceted region can comprise betweenabout 5 and about 15 facets. The faceted region can comprise betweenabout 5 and about 25 facets. The faceted region can comprise betweenabout 5 and about 50 facets. The faceted region can comprise betweenabout 5 and about 100 facets. The faceted region can comprise betweenabout 20 and about 40 facets.

A facet 100 can be a small plane surface. A facet 100 can have a facetexterior surface area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis thatis less than about 4 cm². A facet 100 can have a facet exterior surfacearea 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis that is less thanabout 2.5 cm². A facet 100 can have a facet exterior surface area 102oriented away from the longitudinal axis between about 0.1 cm² and about4 cm². A facet 100 can have a facet exterior surface area 102 orientedaway from the longitudinal axis between about 0.1 cm² and about 2.5 cm².

Each of the plurality of facets 100 can have a facet exterior surfacearea oriented away from the longitudinal axis L and each of theplurality of facets 100 can have a facet exterior surface area 102oriented away from the longitudinal axis L that is less than about 2% ofthe peripheral wall exterior surface area 172. The facet exteriorsurface area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L can bebetween about 0.0001% and about 4% of the peripheral wall exteriorsurface area 172. The facet exterior surface area 102 oriented away fromthe longitudinal axis L can be between about 0.0001% and about 2% of theperipheral wall exterior surface area 172.

Each of the plurality of facets 100 can have a facet exterior surfacearea 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L and each of theplurality of facets 100 can have a facet exterior surface area 102oriented away from the longitudinal axis L that is less than about 1% ofthe peripheral wall exterior surface area 172. The facet exteriorsurface area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L can bebetween about 0.0001% and about 1% of the peripheral wall exteriorsurface area 172.

Each of the plurality of facets 100 can have a facet exterior surfacearea 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L and each of theplurality of facets 100 can have an exterior surface area 102 orientedaway from the longitudinal axis L that is less than about 0.5% of theperipheral wall exterior surface area 172. The facet exterior surfacearea 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L can be between about0.0001% and about 0.5% of the peripheral wall exterior surface area 172.

The facets 100 can be small plane surfaces of individual panels. When aplurality of facets 100 are arranged to form a faceted region 90 on acontainer 10, individual facets 100 can present surfaces that reflectincident light in different directions. That is, the orthogonaldirections away from the surfaces of individual facets 100 aredivergent. The differences in intensity of light reflected to anobserver's eyes are perceived to give the container 10 luster or makethe container 10 look sparkly. Without being bound by theory, it isthought that containers having a faceted region 90 may shimmer ascompared containers having the same general container shape that do nothave faceted region 90. The shimmer, which can be perceived by consumersas flashes of light draw a consumer's eyes to the container 10 having afaceted region 90. Further, a container 10 formed of a thermoplasticmaterial having a faceted region 90 can appear to be a glass container.As such, a lightweight container 10 can have the appearance of a moresubstantial glass container. By having a container 10 that shimmers whenviewed on the shelf of the store, it is thought that more consumers maybe attracted to the container and consider purchasing the container 10and contents therein.

At least a portion of the faceted region 90 can be located nearer to theclosed end 30 than the open end 60. Without being bound by theory, it isthought that such an arrangement can provide for enhanced luster whenthe position of the longitudinal axis L is changes front to backrelative to an observer's eye and when container 10 is rotated about thelongitudinal axis L.

FIG. 2 is an approximate sectional view of the container 10 shown inFIG. 1 to illustrate one configuration of the structure of a section ofthe container 10. A variety of cross-sections orthogonal to thelongitudinal axis are contemplated herein. As shown in FIG. 2, aroundthe peripheral wall 50, at least a portion of the peripheral wall 50about the longitudinal axis L in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinalaxis L below the waist 20 can be defined by a plurality of substantiallystraight line segments 110. The line segments 110 can be arranged end toend, as shown in FIG. 2. At any particular location along thelongitudinal axis L below the waist 20, at least a portion of theperipheral wall 50 about the longitudinal axis L in a plane orthogonalto the longitudinal axis L can be defined by a plurality ofsubstantially straight line segments 110. The peripheral wall 50 aboutthe longitudinal axis L in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Lbelow the waist 20 can be entirely defined by a plurality ofsubstantially straight line segments 110. Each line segment 100 can havelength 120, as shown in FIG. 3 which is a cut-out view of a portion ofthe peripheral wall shown in FIG. 2 as marked in FIG. 2. The length ofthe transition segment 130 between adjacent line segments 100 can have alength less than about 10% of the length of an adjacent line segment100. The length of the transition segment 130 between adjacent linesegments 100 can have a length between about 0.0001% and about 10% ofthe length of an adjacent line segment 100. Without being bound bytheory, it is thought that shorter transition segments 130 can providefor more visual definition of the facets 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral wall 50 about the longitudinal axis Lin a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L above the waist 20 canbe free from or substantially free from having line segments 110arranged end to end.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the peripheral wall 50 can be substantiallysymmetric about the longitudinal axis L. Containers 10 that aresubstantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis L can have higheraxial and lateral strength than containers that are asymmetric about thelongitudinal axis L.

The waist 20 can be nearer to the open end 60 than to the closed end 30.By having the waist 20 located as such, a greater portion of thecontainer 10 can be provided with a faceted region. Further, since thewaist 20 can form a portion of the container 10 designed to be gripped,the center of mass of the container 10 plus the contents therein willtend to be lower than the waist 20. A lower center of gravity may bepractical for providing a container from which it is easy to pourcontents, is stable in the user's hand, and is stable when resting on aflat surface.

The waist 20 can have a waist open cross-section 80 having an area lessthan about 80 cm². A waist 20 dimensioned as such can provide for aconvenient location at which to grip the container 10. The waist 20 canhave a waist open cross-section 80 having an area less than about 60cm². The waist 20 can have a waist open cross-section 80 having an arealess than about 40 cm². The waist 20 can have a waist open cross-section80 having an area less than about 40 cm². The waist 20 can have a waistopen cross-section 80 having an area less than about 20 cm² or even lessthan about 10 cm². Having a smaller waist 20 can be practical forcontainers 10 that designed for used by persons having small hands. Thewaist 20 can have a waist open cross-section 80 having an area betweenabout 5 cm² and about 60 cm². The waist 20 can have a waist opencross-section 80 having an area between about 5 cm² and about 40 cm².The waist 20 can have a waist open cross-section 80 having an areabetween about 5 cm² and about 20 cm². The waist 20 can have a waist opencross-section 80 having an area between about 5 cm² and about 10 cm².

The container 10 can have a total volume defined by the closed end 30,the peripheral wall 50, and the open end 60. The total volume can bemore than about 300 mL. The total volume can be more than about 500 mL.The total volume can be more than about 1000 mL. The total volume can bemore than about 1500 mL. The total volume can be more than about 2000mL. The total volume can be between about 300 mL and about 2000 mL.

The container 10 can have a partial volume above the waist 20. Thepartial volume is defined by the waist open cross-section 80 at thewaist, the peripheral wall 50 above the waist 20, and the open end 60.The partial volume can be thought of as the volume of the part of thecontainer 10 above the waist 20. The partial volume above the waist 20can be less than about 20% of the total volume of the container 10. Thepartial volume above the waist can be less than about 10% of the totalvolume of the container 10. By having a lower fraction of the totalvolume above the waist 20, the container 10 can be more ergonomic forthe person gripping the container 10 about the waist 20 since most ofthe contents within the container 10 are located below the axis aboutwhich the container 10 is tipped when dispensing the contents. Thepartial volume above the waist 20 can be between about 1% and about 50%of the total volume of the container 10. The partial volume above thewaist 20 can be between about 1% and about 20% of the total volume ofthe container 10. The partial volume above the waist 20 can be betweenabout 1% and about 10% of the total volume of the container 10.

The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 30% of the peripheralwall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 below the waist 20.As shown in FIG. 4, faceted region 90 can be on a face 140 of thecontainer 10. A faceted region 90 comprising more than about 30% of theperipheral wall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 below thewaist 20 can be large enough so that the shimmer emanating there fromcan be noticeable by a consumer from a distance of about 1 meter underlighting conditions typically found in stores. The peripheral wallexterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 is the surface of theperipheral wall 50 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L. Thefaceted region 90 can comprise more than about 50% of the peripheralwall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 below the waist 20.The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 60% of the peripheralwall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 below the waist 20.The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 90% of the peripheralwall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 below the waist 20.The faceted region 90 can comprise about 100% of the peripheral wallexterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 below the waist 20. Thehigher the percentage of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 thatthe faceted region 90 comprises, the technical effect of flashes ofreflection from the faceted region 90 is apparent from a wider viewingangle. The faceted region 90 can comprise between about 30% and about100% of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall50 below the waist 20. The faceted region 90 can comprise between about40% and about 100% of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of theperipheral wall 50 below the waist 20. The faceted region 90 cancomprise between about 50% and about 100% of the peripheral wallexterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 below the waist 20. Thefaceted region 90 can comprise between about 60% and about 100% of theperipheral wall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 below thewaist 20.

The peripheral wall exterior surface 170 below the waist 20 can have asurface area. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 30% ofthe peripheral wall exterior surface area 172 below the waist 20. Thefaceted region 90 can comprise more than about 50% of the peripheralwall exterior surface area 172 below the waist 20. The faceted region 90can comprise more than about 70% of the peripheral wall exterior surfacearea 172 below the waist 20. The faceted region 90 can comprise morethan about 80% of the surface area of the peripheral wall exteriorsurface area 172 below the waist 20. The larger the faceted region 90,the more noticeable the faceted region 90 can be since the technicaleffect of flashes of reflection from the faceted region 90 is apparentfrom a wider viewing angle.

The peripheral wall exterior surface 170 below the waist 20 can have asurface area. The faceted region 90 can comprise between about 30% andabout 100% of the peripheral wall exterior surface area 172 below thewaist 20. The faceted region 90 can comprise between about 50% and about100% of the peripheral wall exterior surface area 172 below the waist20. The faceted region 90 can comprise between about 70% and about 100%of the peripheral wall exterior surface area 172 below the waist 20. Thefaceted region 90 can comprise between about 80% and about 100% of thesurface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface area 172 below thewaist 20. The larger the faceted region 90, the more noticeable thefaceted region 90 can be since the technical effect of flashes ofreflection from the faceted region 90 is apparent from a wider viewingangle.

The faceted region 90 can extend around the peripheral wall 50, as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. By arranging the faceted region 90 as such, as theconsumer rotates the container 10 around the longitudinal axis L to viewall parts of peripheral wall 50, the movement of the facets 100 relativeto her eyes will create flashes of reflection that provide theimpression of a sparkly luster from a glass container to the consumer.

The area of the faceted region 90 can be greater than about 60 cm². Thevisibility of the faceted region 90 is thought to increase withincreasing size of the faceted region 90. The faceted region 90 can be adiscrete portion of peripheral wall 50 that is provided with facets 100.For example, a portion of the peripheral wall 50 can comprise a facetedregion 90 and the remainder of the peripheral wall 50 can be free fromor substantially free from facets 100. For example, a portion of theperipheral wall 50 can comprise a faceted region 90 and the remainder ofthe peripheral wall 50 can be smooth and or provided with ribs and orother surface contours that are decorative and or structural. The areaof the faceted region 90 can be between about 60 cm² and about 2000 cm².

The facets 100 can have a facet exterior surface 150 oriented away fromthe longitudinal axis L. The facet exterior surface 150 of each of thefacets 100 can have an opposing facet interior surface that is orientedtowards the longitudinal axis L. The facet exterior surfaces 150 of theplurality of facets 100 can be positioned convexly relative to thelongitudinal axis L.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of facets 100 can bepositioned convexly relative to the longitudinal axis L. In thisarrangement, the plurality of facets 100 can be arranged to extend in adirection from towards the closed end 30 towards the open end 60 of thecontainer. This arrangement can be thought of as being generally up anddown the container 10 when the container 10 is resting on the closed end30. By arranging the plurality of facets 100 to be positioned in adirection from towards the closed end 30 towards the open end 60, thecontainer 10 can generate flashes of reflectance when the longitudinalaxis L of the container 10 is tipped relative to the observer. This cangive the visual impression of a heavy faceted glass or crystal containeryet have the weight of light plastic container.

Similarly, the facet exterior surfaces 150 of the plurality of facets100 can be positioned convexly relative to the longitudinal axis L in adirection about the longitudinal axis L. That is, the plurality offacets 100 can be positioned to at least partially wrap around, or evenentirely wrap around, the longitudinal axis L of the container 10 at aparticular height of the container along the longitudinal axis L. Byarranging the plurality of facets 100 in this manner, the container 10can have the impression of a sparkly luster when the container 10 isrotated about the longitudinal axis L or when the consumer walks pastthe container 10 and is progressively exposed to different portions ofthe peripheral wall 50 as she walks to, in front of, and past thecontainer presented on a shelf in a store.

The convex arrangement of the plurality of facets 100 relative to thelongitudinal axis can be up and down the container 10, around thecontainer 10, or both up and down and around the container 10, forexample in a helical or spiral arrangement.

Another way of describing the facets 100 forming the faceted region 90is that the facet exterior surfaces 150 of the facets 100 are divergentfrom one another. That is, the normal direction away from the facetexterior surface 150 of each of the facets 100 forming the facetedregion can be unique for each facet 100. The normal direction away fromthe facet exterior surface 150 of each facet 100 can be divergent fromthe normal direction away from the facet exterior surface 150 eachadjacent facet 100. Such an arrangement can provide for flashes ofreflection with changes in the viewing angle of the faceted region 90.

The facets 100 can have a variety of different shapes. All of the facets100 on the container 10 can have a substantially similar shape. As theshape of the container 10 can be a function of location along thelongitudinal axis L, the facets 100 can be scaled to fit such shape.Optionally, the shape of the facets 100 can be transformed such that theshape of each of the facets 100 is common with each of the other facets100 when the surface of the peripheral wall 50 is transformed to have acommon dimensional scale throughout the peripheral wall 50. Such anarrangement is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the number offacets 100 around the peripheral wall 50 is the same at all locationsalong the longitudinal axis L below the waist 20.

The size of the facets at a particular height on the container 10 can bea function of the perimeter of the container 10 which can be in turn afunction of the location along the longitudinal axis L. The size of thefacets 100 can decrease with decreasing perimeter.

A variety of shapes are suitable for the facets 100. For example, thefacets 100 can have a substantially rhomboidal shape, as shown in FIG.5. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the facets 100 can have a centroid160.

The centroid 160 of adjacent facets 100 can be aligned with one anotheron the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10 atpositions along the longitudinal axis L, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.Similarly, the centroids 160 of adjacent facets 100 can be aligned withone another on the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container10 at positions about the longitudinal axis L, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5,7, 8, and 9.

The facets 100 can have a shape selected from the group consisting ofsubstantially polygonal, substantially triangular, substantiallyquadrilateral, substantially rhomboidal, substantially hexagonal, andcombinations thereof. A faceted region 90 can comprise facets 100 havinga plurality of shapes, by way of non-limiting example, as shown in FIG.8.

Each of the adjacent facets 100 can have a facet exterior surface area102 that is within about 20% of one another. For each facet 100, thefacet exterior surface area 102 is the area of the facet exteriorsurface 150 of the facet 100. Each of the adjacent facets 100 can havesubstantially the same shape. The facet exterior surface area 102 ofeach facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less thanabout 10% of the surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface170 of the container 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 of eachfacet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about0.001% and about 10% of the surface area of the peripheral wall exteriorsurface 170 of the container 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 ofeach facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less thanabout 5% of the surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170of the container 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 of each facet100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001% andabout 5% of the surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170of the container 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 of each facet100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less than about 3% of thesurface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of thecontainer 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 of each facet 100forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001% andabout 3% of the surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170of the container 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 of each facet100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less than about 2% of thesurface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of thecontainer 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 of each facet 100forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001% andabout 2% of the surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170of the container 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 of each facet100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less than about 1% of thesurface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of thecontainer 10. The facet exterior surface area 102 of each facet 100forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001% andabout 1% of the surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170of the container 10. Without being bound by theory, it is thought thatif smaller facets 100 are used, more facets 100 can be provided on theperipheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10 which canprovide for more flashes of reflectance as incident light is reflectedoff of the facets 100.

The facets 100 can be substantially flat. The facets 100 can be flat.The flatter the facets 100 the more reflective the facets 100.Substantially flat surfaces are thought to provide for enhanced lusterto the faceted region 100. Individual facets 100 can have a radius ofcurvature of the principal curvatures at the centroid of the facet 100greater than about 60 mm. Individual facets 100 can have a radius ofcurvature of the principal curvatures at the centroid of the facet 100greater than about 70 mm.

Individual facets 100 can have a radius of curvature of the principalcurvatures at the centroid of the facet 100 greater than about 90 mm.Individual facets 100 can have a radius of curvature of the principalcurvatures at the centroid of the facet 100 greater than about 130 mm.Without being bound by theory, such facets 100 are thought to be flatenough so as to be sufficiently reflective to provide for the desiredluster.

The facets 100 forming the faceted region 100 can have a Gaussiancurvature between about −0.04 and about 0.04. The facets 100 forming thefaceted region 100 can have a Gaussian curvature between about −0.01 andabout 0.01. The Gaussian curvature of a facet 100 is the product of theprincipal curvatures of the facet 100.

To provide for enhanced flashes of reflectance from incident lightreflecting off of the container 10, the peripheral wall 50 in thefaceted region 90 can comprise an outer skin layer 190. The outer skinlayer 190 can be a sleeve 200 disposed about the peripheral wall 50 ofthe container, as shown in FIG. 10. The outer skin layer 190 can beprovided, by way of non-limiting example, to the container after thecontainer 10 is blow molded or during blow molding of the container 10.For example, the sleeve 200 can be a shrink sleeve that is heat shrunkaround the finished container 10. Alternatively, the sleeve 200 can bestretch sleeve into which a pre-form or parison is blown to stretch thestretch sleeve to form the finished container 10.

The outer skin layer 190 can be a bounded label 210, as shown in FIG.11. A bounded label 190 is a label forming part of the container 10 thatonly partially extends about the longitudinal axis L. The bounded label190 can be selected from the group consisting of a heat transfer label,an in-mold label, and an adhesive label.

The outer skin layer 190 can be selected from the group consisting of anin-mold label, an adhesive label, a heat transfer label, a stretchsleeve label, wet glue label, and a shrink sleeve label

To enhance the reflective properties of the facets, the outer skin layer190 can be selected from the group consisting of a biaxially orientedpolystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and glycol modifiedpolyethylene terephthalate. The outer skin layer 190 can be printed. Theouter skin layer 190 can be reverse printed. The outer skin layer 190can be a metallic ink printed outer skin layer 190. The printing can bea metallic ink or pearlescent ink. A metallic foil can be included in alaminate comprising the outer skin layer 190. A metallic ink comprisessmall particles of metal, such as aluminum, bronze, copper, zinc, orother metallic element. The labels can be printed by digital printing,flexographic printing, gravure printing, or other suitable printingtechnology. An outer skin layer 190 that is a metallic ink printed outerskin layer 190 can provide for a reflective surface that that generatesmore intense perceived flashes of reflectance.

A polyethylene terphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, ororiented polystyrene label may be used. This method of printing puts thereflective surface on the outside of the package. This can be enhancedby using metallic ink (ink mixed with small particles of aluminum,bronze, copper, zinc, or other elements), pearlescent ink, and metallicfoils.

To provide for structural stability of the container 10 above the waist20, the peripheral wall 50 above the waist 20 the waist 20 can be freefrom or substantially free from facets 100. The lack of facets 100 abovethe waist 20 is thought to provide for improved resistance to bucklingof the container as compared to container 10 that is not free from orsubstantially free from facets 100 above the waist 20.

The container 10 can have a local aspect ratio between about 1.3 andabout 5 mid-way along the longitudinal axis L, for example as shown inFIG. 12 which is a cross-section of a container 10 taken orthogonal tothe longitudinal axis L. Such a local aspect ratio can provide for acontainer 10 that has a broad dimension that can be suitable as aprimary label face 501 of the container 10. The primary label face 501of the container can contain the brand name of the product containedwithin the container 10 in a large enough font so as to be readable byan observer at a distance of between about 0.1 m and about 2 m undertypical lighting conditions that occur in a retail environment. Theprimary label face 501 of the container 10 can be generally in line witha local major axis 201 of the container 10, recognizing that the primarylabel face 501 may be a curved surface. Optionally, the container 10 canhave a local aspect ratio between about 1.4 and about 5 mid-way alongthe longitudinal axis L. Optionally, the container 10 can have a localaspect ratio greater between about 1.5 and about 5 mid-way along thelongitudinal axis L. Optionally, the container 10 can have a localaspect ratio between about 1.7 and about 5 mid-way along thelongitudinal axis L. Optionally, the container 10 can have a localaspect ratio between about 2 and about 5 mid-way along the longitudinalaxis L.

Without being bound by theory, it is thought that containers 10 having afaceted region 90 can be practical for attracting the attention ofconsumers from a distance of between about 0.1 m and about 2 m. However,since the faceted region 90 has a plurality of facets 100, each of whichreflect in divergent direction, labeling on the container 10 can bedifficult for an observer to read at a close distance, such as withinabout 2 m of the container 10. A container 10 having a local aspectratio greater than about 1.3 mid-way along the longitudinal axis L canprovide for a less rounded portion of the container 10 that can belabeled with brand identifying information. A faceted region 90 providedon such a container can balance the desire to provide for a container 10having a luster when viewed from a distance yet be legibly labeled on aprimary label face 501 of the container 10.

As the consumer approaches the container 10 when walking along an aisle,different portions of the container 10 will be visible depending on herposition relative to the container. For instance, if the primary labelface 501 is facing the front of the shelf, the consumer will first beexposed to a portion of the side of the container 10 after which shewill be exposed to the front of the container 10. The sharper curvedsurfaces of the container 10 can provide more luster as compared to theless curved surfaces of the container 10 since the surfaces of theindividual facets 100 are more divergent for the former as compared tothe latter. Facets 100 provided on the primary label face 501 still canprovide for luster yet branding information provided in that locationcan also be readable by the observer from a distance within 2 m undernormal lighting conditions.

Along more than about 20% of the longitudinal axis L the container 10can have a local aspect ratio greater than about 1.3. Along more thanabout 20% of the longitudinal axis L the container 10 can have a localaspect ratio greater than about 1.5. Along more than about 40% of thelongitudinal axis L the container 10 can have a local aspect ratiogreater than about 1.3. Along more than about 40% of the longitudinalaxis L the container 10 can have a local aspect ratio greater than about1.5. Along between about 20% and 95% of the longitudinal axis L thecontainer 10 can have a local aspect ratio greater than about 1.3. Alongbetween about 40% and 95% of the longitudinal axis L the container 10can have a local aspect ratio greater than about 1.3. Along betweenabout 60% and 95% of the longitudinal axis L the container 10 can have alocal aspect ratio greater than about 1.3. Along between about 80% and95% of the longitudinal axis L the container 10 can have a local aspectratio greater than about 1.3.

The container 10 can further comprise a plug seal closure 62 operativelyengaged with the open end 60, as shown in FIG. 13. Together, thecontainer 10 and plug seal closure can provide for an enclosed package64 that does not leak the contents of the package 64 under stresses thatare anticipated to occur during the manufacture, storage, distribution,sale, and use of the package and/or contents of the package 64. The plugseal closure 62 can be a closure that is threaded onto the open end 60of the container 10 for fit into or over the open end 60 of thecontainer. The open end 60 of the container 10 can be calibrated. Forinstance the open end 60 of the container 10 can have dimensionaltolerance less than about 2% of the diameter of the open end 60.

A plurality of containers 10 can be contained within a carton 600, asshown in FIG. 14. The carton 600 can comprise paper. The carton 600 cancomprise corrugated paper. The carton 600 can have an interior heightdimension H. The container 10 can be sized and dimensioned to fitupright within the carton 600. The container 10 and plug seal closure 62can be sized and dimensioned to fit upright within the carton 600. Thecontainer 10 can have a container height 11 that is the distance betweenthe open end 60 and closed 30. The container height 11 can be less thanor equal to the interior height dimension H of the carton 600. Theinterior height dimension H can be less than about 5 mm greater than thecontainer height 11. A plurality of cartons 600 containing containers 10as described herein can be stacked on top of one another. The containers10 as described herein can have adequate top load strength so that thecontainers 10 in a carton 600 underneath another carton 600 containingcontainers 10 do not buckle under the stress applied from above.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation ofany document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect toany invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in anycombination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests ordiscloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning ordefinition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning ordefinition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, themeaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shallgovern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a closed end having aclosed end periphery; and a peripheral wall extending from said closedend periphery about a longitudinal axis of said container to an openend, said closed end and said peripheral wall comprising a thermoplasticmaterial; wherein said peripheral wall defines a variable opencross-section of said container in a plane orthogonal to saidlongitudinal axis as a function of distance from said closed end;wherein said container has a waist having a waist open cross-sectionorthogonal to said longitudinal axis that is smaller than said waistopen cross-section orthogonal to said longitudinal axis above and belowsaid waist; wherein said peripheral wall comprises a faceted regioncomprising a plurality of facets arranged edge to edge with one or moreadjacent facets, at least a portion of said faceted region being locatednearer to said closed end than to said open end; wherein said peripheralwall has a peripheral wall exterior surface oriented away from saidlongitudinal axis, said peripheral wall exterior surface having aperipheral wall exterior surface area; wherein each of said plurality offacets has a facet exterior surface oriented away from said longitudinalaxis and each of said facets has a facet exterior surface area that isbetween about 0.0001% and about 4% of said peripheral wall exteriorsurface area; and wherein said peripheral wall above said waist issubstantially free from said facets.
 2. The container according to claim1, wherein said peripheral wall above said waist is free from saidfacets.
 3. The container according to claim 2, wherein individual saidfacets have a radius of curvature of the principal curvatures at acentroid of said facets greater than about 60 mm.
 4. The containeraccording to claim 3, wherein said peripheral wall in said facetedregion comprises an outer skin layer.
 5. The container according toclaim 4, wherein said skin layer is a label selected from the groupconsisting of a shrink-sleeve label, a stretch-sleeve label, an in-moldlabel, a heat transfer label, and an adhesive label.
 6. The containeraccording to claim 5, wherein said skin layer is a metallic ink printedshrink-sleeve label or a metallic ink printed stretch-sleeve label. 7.The container according to claim 6, wherein said peripheral wall belowsaid waist has a surface area, wherein said faceted region comprisesbetween about 50% and about 100% of said surface area.
 8. The containeraccording to claim 7, wherein said container comprises a plug sealclosure.
 9. The container according to claim 8, wherein said waist isnearer to said open end than said closed end.
 10. The containeraccording to claim 9, wherein said waist has a waist open cross-sectionhaving an area between about 5 cm² and about 60 cm².
 11. The containeraccording to claim 10, wherein said facets have a shape selected fromthe group consisting of substantially polygonal, substantiallytriangular, substantially quadrilateral, substantially rhomboidal,substantially hexagonal, and combinations thereof.
 12. The containeraccording to claim 1, wherein said container has a total volume definedby said closed end, said peripheral wall, and said open end, and apartial volume above said waist, wherein said partial volume is betweenabout 1% and about 20% of said total volume.
 13. The container accordingto claim 1, wherein each of said adjacent facets in said faceted regionhave a facet exterior surface area within about 20% of one another. 14.The container according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall belowsaid waist has an peripheral wall exterior surface, wherein said facetedregion comprises between about 30% and about 100% of said peripheralwall exterior surface.
 15. The container according to claim 1, whereineach of said facets has a facet exterior surface oriented away from saidlongitudinal axis and said facet exterior surfaces of said plurality offacets are positioned convexly relative to said longitudinal axis. 16.The container according to claim 15, wherein said facet exteriorsurfaces of said plurality of facets are positioned convexly relative tosaid longitudinal axis about said longitudinal axis.
 17. The containeraccording to claim 1, wherein said facets have a shape selected from thegroup consisting of substantially polygonal, substantially triangular,substantially quadrilateral, substantially rhomboidal, substantiallyhexagonal, and combinations thereof.
 18. The container according toclaim 1, wherein said waist has a waist open cross-section having anarea between about 5 cm² and about 60 cm².
 19. The container accordingto claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall has a peripheral wall exteriorsurface oriented away from said longitudinal axis and wherein each ofsaid facets has a centroid, wherein said centroids of adjacent facetsare aligned with one another on said peripheral wall exterior surface atpositions along said longitudinal axis L.
 20. A container comprising: aclosed end having a closed end periphery; and a peripheral wallextending from said closed end periphery about a longitudinal axis ofsaid container to an open end, said closed end and said peripheral wallcomprising a thermoplastic material; wherein said peripheral walldefines a variable open cross-section of said container in a planeorthogonal to said longitudinal axis as a function of distance from saidclosed end; wherein said container has a waist having a waist opencross-section orthogonal to said longitudinal axis that is smaller thansaid waist open cross-section orthogonal to said longitudinal axis aboveand below said waist; wherein said peripheral wall comprises a facetedregion comprising a plurality of facets arranged edge to edge with oneor more adjacent facets, at least a portion of said faceted region beinglocated nearer to said closed end than to said open end; wherein saidperipheral wall has a peripheral wall exterior surface oriented awayfrom said longitudinal axis, said peripheral wall exterior surfacehaving a peripheral wall exterior surface area; wherein each of saidplurality of facets has a facet exterior surface oriented away from saidlongitudinal axis and each of said facets has a facet exterior surfacearea that is between about 0.0001% and about 4% of said peripheral wallexterior surface area; wherein said peripheral wall above said waist isfree from said facets; wherein individual said facets have a radius ofcurvature of the principal curvatures at a centroid of said facetsgreater than about 60 mm; wherein said peripheral wall in said facetedregion comprises an outer skin layer; wherein said skin layer is a labelselected from the group consisting of a shrink-sleeve label, astretch-sleeve label, an in-mold label, a heat transfer label, and anadhesive label; wherein said waist is nearer to said open end than saidclosed end; wherein said waist has a waist open cross-section having anarea between about 5 cm² and about 60 cm²; and wherein said containerhas a total volume defined by said closed end, said peripheral wall, andsaid open end, and a partial volume above said waist, wherein saidpartial volume is between about 1% and about 20% of said total volume.